Jackrabbits wrangle the Mustangs

Nate Wolters posted his third double-double in the last four
games with 21 points and 10 rebounds, which ties a career-high, and Chad White
scored 19 points and tied a career-high with five three-pointers in South
Dakota State's 81-72 win over Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday at Frost
Arena.

Winners of 19 in a row at home, the Jackrabbits improve to
4-2 on the season, while the visiting Mustangs fall to 2-3.

"It's good when you can not play sharp and still win the
basketball game, and our kids know that there are still lessons to learn from
it, but still being able to win the game is a plus for us," head coach Scott
Nagy said. "We didn't shoot it well, we didn't defend well and I think you have
to give Southwest Minnesota State credit, they came in prepared and weren't
scared, they played well. There's a reason they're one of the best teams in the
country in Division II, Brad (Bigler) is a great coach and his had his kids
ready."

The Mustangs fell behind 12-6 early, but never went away,
and came back to take a 31-30 lead with just under five minuets to play in the
first half.

SDSU quickly regained the lead, but only led by two points,
when Wolters hit a three-pointer at the first half buzzer to give the Jacks a
38-33 lead at halftime.

SMSU tied the game at 40-all early in the second half, but
the Jackrabbits responded with a 28-6 run that ended with the Jacks leading
68-46 with 8:33 left to play.

The visitors would cut the lead to as few as eight points,
but did so with just 27 seconds left, and would get no closer.

The Jackrabbits look to make it 20 in a row at home next
Wednesday, when they host North Dakota in Frost Arena at 8:30 p.m., following
the SDSU women's basketball game against Marquette at 6 p.m.

NOTES: South Dakota State improves to 16-1 all-time against
Southwest Minnesota State; with wins in each of the last five games ... the
Jackrabbits and Mustangs played in front of 2,525 fans at Frost Arena ... the
win boosts the Jackrabbits home win streak to 19 straight games ... Nate
Wolters posted his eighth double-double of his career, his third of the season,
all within the last four games, with 21 points and 10 rebounds ... Wolters' 10
rebounds ties a career high, as does Tony Fiegen's 10 rebounds, equaling a mark
he set at South Dakota on Feb. 9, 2012 ... Wolters scored in double figures for
the 88th time and for the 45th consecutive game, scored at least 20 points for the fifth game this
season and for 45th time in his career ... Wolters' 21 points gives him 1,760
for his career, 56 shy of passing Austin Hansen for third all-time at SDSU ...
White tied a career-high with five three-pointers in the win, equaling a his
five three-pointers against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 27, 2010 and against
Baylor in the NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2012